We asked health experts what really happens when you take alcohol out of the equation for a month (or longer). It’s worth noting that these are just some of the benefits of quitting alcohol. Because alcohol can affect nearly every aspect of our life, abstaining from it can bring numerous benefits to our overall level of health, happiness, and well-being. Your liver function should continue to improve, and your immune system may start to strengthen. This can help your body fight off infections and illnesses more effectively.

Two Weeks In: Decreased Sugar Cravings and Weight Loss

Most importantly, you’ll have more time for yourself, more time to focus on yourself and more time to feel good about yourself. Plus, if you’re not drinking, you won’t have to worry about that horrible dry mouth feeling in the morning or when you wake up in the middle of the night. “This means it causes the body to lose fluids. When you stop drinking, your body can stay hydrated, leading to better skin complexion and overall wellbeing.” There’s little chance you’ll want to get up early and head to the gym or meet a friend for coffee before work if your body is already tired from processing last night’s drinking. In the meantime, if you’re thinking about changing your relationship with alcohol, our free services like Drink Tracker, My Drink Check or the Daybreak app can help support your goals. “Fatty liver is a common phenomenon in individuals who drink heavily and regularly, leading to cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease,” says Mary Wirtz, MS, RDN, CSSD.

Your mental health can also be affected in the first week of sobriety. You might experience mood swings and intense emotions that alcohol was previously numbing. Engaging in alcohol therapy can help you work through these feelings with expert guidance. Completing 30 days without alcohol is a huge accomplishment and it’s within your reach. In 2024, 25% of US adults who regularly drink alcohol completed the Dry January challenge.

Your Relationships May Improve

• While these changes are gradual and variable, it sure helps to have realistic expectations.
• Alcohol is very harsh on the stomach, so once you quit, you’ll see improvements in your acid reflux and stomachaches.

You may find your scale reading a pound or two lighter than before. Now that you don’t have to deal with hangovers and you no longer spend time drinking, you should have more time and capacity to exercise! Fitness is important to your overall health and sense of well-being. In lieu of an alcoholic beverage before sleep, try other alternatives like decaffeinated warm tea or warm milk. For those in recovery, the six-month point is a huge achievement and should be celebrated. Take the time to look at the money you have saved, your health improvements and the relationships you have been able to rekindle.

Mental Health Effects When You Stop Drinking

As these https://ecosober.com/blog/what-happens-to-the-body-when-you-stop-drinking-alcohol/ systems recalibrate, individuals may experience mood fluctuations, sleep disturbances, and changes in anxiety levels. Brittany Burke Robert, the author of this article, has written about health for Oprah Daily, Well+Good, Livestrong, Reebok and other publications and digital brands for over 15 years. She has extensive experience working alongside clinicians and providers to create physical and mental well-being content that’s useful, informative, and clinically effective. For this article, she conducted interviews with multiple doctors for their expertise and recommendations and read research on alcohol and its effect on the body.

Commit to Sobriety

It may also contribute to better stress management and coping mechanisms,” says Best. After a year of not drinking, the body’s inflammation markers are significantly reduced, helping bolster your overall health. Not only will you have more money, but you’ll also have a lot more time to spend on the things that you love doing. This newfound free time can be disorienting for some people after they quit drinking because they might actually feel bored, and this can be a risk if cravings come back. Taking some time now to think about and write down what you’ll use your extra money and time for when you stop drinking will set you up for success later. Because alcohol is a known human carcinogen, abstaining from alcohol will eventually decrease your risk of getting cancer.

The quitting alcohol timeline begins with acute withdrawal symptoms in the first few days (for heavy drinkers). Weeks 2-4 see initial physical improvements like gut healing and better sleep. Deeper organ repair and significant mental health improvements typically occur over 2-6 months. By 7-12 months, sober routines are established, and long-term well-being is cemented. When you stop drinking alcohol, your body immediately begins to repair and heal. Liver function begins to show signs of improvement within a couple of weeks after quitting alcohol, but after a couple of months, the beneficial differences become more palpable throughout the body.

How One Month No Alcohol Improves Your Mental and Emotional Well-Being

Very often, people presenting to general practitioners with common conditions will not tell their doctor they are drinking two bottles of wine a day. So, while we can metabolize around a unit of alcohol an hour, if you drink a lot, everyday, your body has to rid your system of those toxins. If you overload the liver, you have more of those toxins inside your body, which can damage the liver itself, your brain, your stomach, your heart and your pancreas. The Recovery Village Atlanta offers comprehensive addiction treatment for drug and alcohol addictions and co-occurring mental health conditions. At The Recovery Village Atlanta, we are committed to helping people like you or your loved one recover completely from alcohol addiction as safely and comfortably as possible. We aim to help you stop using alcohol and empower you to maintain lifelong sobriety.Quitting alcohol may seem daunting; however, you can do https://paaksaaf.com/federal-halfway-house-complete-guide-to-rules-2/ it!

• You don’t have to be a regular heavy drinker for alcohol to affect your immune system.
• While it may not be something you perceptibly notice, one huge health benefit from stopping alcohol will occur by your third week of not drinking.
• After quitting alcohol for a month, one of the most striking benefits is the healing that occurs within the liver.
• If having a drink after work was part of your routine, it may help to create a new ritual in the evening, such as taking a walk or creating a mocktail at home.

Why Can’t I Stop Drinking Once I Start? 4 Major Reasons

By now you might be feeling great in the mornings, have less alcohol-related anxiety, experience more mental clarity, and feel a deeper sense of appreciation for waking up without hangxiety or shame. It’s also vital to consult a medical professional before you stop drinking. Alcohol withdrawal what is alcoholism is a serious medical concern, and you should make a plan with your physician to ensure that you can start cutting back safely.

Some use this experience to launch a longer recovery journey, especially if they uncover signs of alcohol dependence. Many people realize they don’t “need” alcohol as much as they thought. You may also notice that your digestion improves and your bloating decreases. Alcohol also floods the brain with dopamine—the “feel good” neurotransmitter—which can distort your reward system. Over time, your brain becomes less responsive to natural pleasures and more reliant on alcohol for mood regulation.